Securing means for concrete forms or the like



June 11, 1929. c. l, w IIIII Ms 1,716,872

heats-Sheet l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. l. WILLIAMS Filed Feb. 26, 1925SECURING MEANS FOR CONCRETE FORMS, OR THE LIKE JWM@ Patented June 11,1929.

UNITED STATES 1,716,872 PATENT-AOFFICE.

CHESTER I. WILLIAMS, 0F GIRANI) RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 0l' ONE-HALFT0 GOODSPEED INVESTMENT COMPANY, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORA-TION 0F MICHIGAN.

SECURING MEANS FOR CONCRETE FORMS OB THE LIKE.

Application led February 26, 192.5. serial No. 11,755.

My invention relates particularly t o an improved means and method ofsecurlng concrete forms or the like by wiring, and has among its objectsthe making possible of the production of an improved product in a moresatisfactory manner. The lnvention has among its further objects theproductlon of an improved wiring means for forms of the kind describedwhich is simple, durable, reliable, convenient, eiiicient andsat1sfactory for use wherevcrfound applicable. M ore particularly it hasamong'its further ob]ects the production of a wiring means in whichbreaking oi" the wires or elongation of the same m tension and resultingdeformation of the mold or form is prevented. Many other objects andadvantages of the construction herein shown and described will beobvious t0 those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a form, illustratingr the same setup;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the same;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, illustrating the method of cutting the wiresafter the concrete is set;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, illustrating the method of withdrawing theretaining members 7;

Fig. 5 is a View in elevation of the same;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan (or top) view of the form, also illustratingthe removal of the members 7 prior to the removal of the form boards;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View through the structure showing the form boardsremoved and only the wires remaining;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the same, illustrating thefilling up of the hole in which member 7 was seated;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig. 3;and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view showing one method of securing the wire endstogether.

Referring to the drawings, in which only the preferred embodiment of theinvention is shown, I have illustrated a sim le construction of concreteform or mold, it )eing understood that the design and size of the same,as well as the materials employed, may be as desired. Referringparticularly to Fig. 1, l represents the form boards which are separatedby spacers or spreaders 1 of the desired size, while 3 representsstudding or the like arranged at the exterior of the form boards and'4whalers extending along the outside ot the members 3. I have illustratedin Figs. 2 to 6 the concrete 2 which is poured or otherwise appliedbetween the form boards and allowed to set. The forms are set upsubstantially as shown in Fig. 1,'in which 5 re resents wire connectingthe members 7 W ich extend through the form boards. As shown, themembers 7 are tubular, as indicated at 8, for a portion of their lengthand provided with transverse openings 9 through which the wire 5 islooped, as indicated at 10, the wire extending over the face 9 whichsubstantially constitutes an anvil, as will be hereafter referred to.

ln connecting up the wire, I prefer to loop the same through the members7 and then bring the ends together at substantially the center of themold and wrap them together and thence back, as indicated in Fig. 10 inwhich the ends 5 are looped over as indicated at 6 and thence back andtwisted around the wires, as shown. Any equivalent construction may beemployed, such as the wrapping of the ends together as is common 1nwrapping the ends of telegraph or telephone wire, but whatever thearrangement, the wires 5 5 are preferably not twisted together in theordinary sense. The members 7 are each provided with a head, asindicated at 11, the same being preferably formed with extendingportions, as indicated at 11 in Fig. 5, for engagement with a suitableremoving tool hereinafter described. As shown, member 7 is internallythreaded at the outer end for engagement with the bolt 12 which isthreaded at one end, as indicated at 13, and at the opposite end asindicated at 14. This bolt extends between the two whalers 4 4, orthrough a single Whaler as the case may be, and through a clamp 15 whichis provided with the flanged portion 16 arran ed to engage at the facesof the whalers. y using a clamp of this type and whalers 4 4,

it is not necessary to use heavy timber and bore holes through the same,thereby de reciating the value of the timber, as wel as incurringincreased expense in boring the holes. The clamping member is shownprovided with a tubular extending part 17, the m'ember 12 extendingloosely therethrough and engaging with the wing nut 18, having thehandle ortion 19 for convenience in operating. I lave illustrated inFig. 3 a chisel 20 having the sharpened end 21 and inserted in themember 7 after the removal of the bolt 12 therefrom, as will be laterdescribed.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, 22 represents a tool, preferably providedwith forked ends 23 arranged to engage with extensions 11 on head 11 andoperable to remove member 7 after the Wires have been severed. Tool 22(see Figs. 4 and 6) is preferably bent as indicated at 24 and formedwith an extended handle 25. In Fig. 7 I have illustrated the forms andmembers 7 removed with the severed looped wires extending into therecesses 26, as indicated at 27. 1n Figure 8 I have illustrated therecess filled up by the lug 28 which is cast therein and which bin s onthe extended ends of the wire 5.

In use the forms and securing means are set up as shown in Fig. 1, inwhich the spreaders 1 maintain the forms spaced apart, while the wires,members 7, bolts 12, etc., prevent spreading of the forms. The spreaders1 are removed as the concrete is added, as the pressure of the materialtends in itself to spread the forms and maintain them separated. Afterthe material is set, the bolts 12 may be removed. After they have beenremoved, the chisel 20 is employed by inserting the same in the members7 and severing the wires at the loop 10, as indicated in Fig. 3, theface 9 forming an anvil towards which the chisel is directed. After thewires have been severed, the tool 22 is applied to the several members 7substantially as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and the members 7 Withdrawn.Obviously, a block or the equivalent of the desired height may be usedas a fulcrum for the tool 22. The form boards may then be removed andthe structure is substantially as shown in Fig, 7. The holes or recesses26 are then lled up or patched by a plying the material as indicated at28.

his material covers the exposed ends of the wires 5 and binds therewith,as well as with the sides of the recesses, so the exterior of thestructure is smooth and of finished appearance.

The advantages of this method of wiring forms over the ordinary methodare numer-v ous, the following few are those most worthy ofconsideration.

In the first place, there is no twisting of wires in the form. Everycontractor knows that when a wire is twisted, for instance, if the endsof a wire are twisted together around the studdng of a form, the wire isweakened, the amount it is weakened depending to a certain extent on theway it is twisted, but unskilled laborers will sometimes twist a wire tothe breaking point and then the moment the wire is stressed due to theforce of the concrete it will break at this point. It is sometimespractically impossible to repair or overcome the effect of a broken wirein the form. This danger is entirely eliminated by the method of usingwires in connection with the wire form clamps. The wires are simplythreaded .through the holes in the Wire casting, then the ends caughttogether at the middle of the form and wrapped back in oppositedirections a distance of seven or eight inches; this leaves the wireloose, but it is then tightened to the proper tension by screwing up thewing nuts, the form being held to the proper spacing by the use of wooden spreaders. It is practically impossible in the ordinary use of wiresto bring all the Wires to the same tension, those of a lesser tensionwill allow the form to give more than those of a greater tension, as theforms are being filled with concrete. This allows the form as a whole4to warp and the finished surface of theconcrete will have la warpedeffect, which will be very noticeable by sightino' over the surface ofthe concrete after the forms are removed. Even when wooden wedges areused with wires the wires are seldom brought to the same tension andheld at that tension. There is always the danger of the Wedges slippingor working loose and allowing the wire to give.

Another thing, when wires are used in the latter method, there is twicethe length of wire, ordinarily due to the wires extending through theforms and around the studding; the amount a wire will elongate when itis 1n tension varies as the length of the wire over the diameter; thus,with the same tension on the wire, due to the pressure of the concrete,the latter method in which the wire is say twice as long, will elongatetwice as much as in the method of usin the wire with the wire formclamps. This attermethod willrequire, at the most, a third the number ofwires, by using whalers, as where the wires are twisted around everystudding; the former method requires four holes drilled in the form foreach wire, whereas, the latter method requires two holes drilled in theform for each wire to admit the wire casting; there would be at leastthree times the number of wires in the former case or six times as manyholes drilled and approximately six times the length of wire; thus thecost of wire will be approximately six times as much and thedepreciation of the form lumberdue to drilling six times as great, andnaturally the time of installing would be much more. When wires are somuch thicker in the forms it is diiiicult to get around in the forms toclean out same or A to puddle the concrete as it is being poured intothe form', and it is especially hard to spade the concrete around thewires out next to the forms; climbing alound in the forms, stepping onthe wires has a tendency to loosen them or break them, but with the wireform clamps one may step on the wire castings next tothe form andeliminate the above danger.

lVhen wires are left projecting through the forms it is difficult toremove the forms without damaging either the forms or the concrete inprying them ott, but when the wire form clamps are used this leavesnothing projecting beyond the surface of the concrete to hinder inremoving the forms.

In concrete work that requires a finished surface. this method of usingthe wire form clamps is very desirable, inasmuch as it leaves the endsof the wire severed back from the surface of the concrete about an inchor so, depending on the construction. The hole left when the casing isremoved has a good square shoulder, does not run out to a thin flange.and has the projecting ends of the wires to bind a patch to. There is nodanger of the patch ever coming out and leaving an unsightly place onthe surface of the concrete. If a method is used wherein the wiresproject beyond the surface of the concrete, when the wires are cut oflflush with the concrete, they will afterwards rust, due to exposure, andrust streaks will form on the surface of the concrete, or if they arechiseled off back in the concrete and the hole patched, `vou havenothing to bind t-he patch to except the sides of the hole which flareout to a thin flange. and as a result, due to exposure to the weather,this patch will loosen and fall out, leaving a bad place in the surfaceof the concrete. This method of' using Wire form clamps is not onlyadvantageous from a stand-point of economy but from the standpoint ofhaving a well finished surface.

The advantages may be summed up as follows:

vlVires are not twisted in the forms.

No breaking point in the wire.

lVires are easily adjusted by use of wing nuts.

Less elongation of wire in tension.

Approximately one-sixth the length of wire is used.

Approximately one-sixth the number of holes to be drilled.

Forms are not damaged in being removed.

Time of installing, removing; cost of wire; depreciation of form lumber;and damage to concrete are less than in the ordinary method of wiringforms.

Less difficult to climb around inside form.V

especially VNo wires projecting Athrough forms lto hinder in removal ofsame.

No wires exposed to the surface of the concrete.

A patch job that cannot come out.

A unique finished concrete surface.

llaving tlms described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence I do not Wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, arrangement, construction lmeans forsecuring the flexible means to the other form member and means forcutting said flexible member to disengage same. i 2. In apparatus of thekind described and 1n combination, form members disposed in opposedrelation, flexible means disposed between the form members, meansprojecting through one of the form members and engaged with the flexiblemeans, means includmg relatively movable members disposed outside of theform members and making threaded engagement with the last-mentionedmeans for tensioning the flexible means, means for securing the flexiblemeans to the other form member and means for cutting said flexiblemember to disengage same.

3. In apparatus of the character described and in combination, formmembers disposed in opposed relation, flexible means disposed betweenthe form members, a hollow member projecting through one of the formmembers and having an opening disposed on the outer side of said formmember, a portion of said first mentioned means being passed throughsaid hollow member, means including relatively movable parts heldagainst displacement toward said form member and engageable with saidhollow member for tensioning the flexible means, and means for securingthe flexible means to the other form member.

4. In apparatus of the character described and in combination,orm'members disposed in opposed relation, flexible means disposedbetween the form members, a hollow member projecting through one of theform members and having an pening disposed on the outer side of saidform member, a portion of said first mentioned means being passedthrough said hollow member, means held against displacement toward saidform member and having means threaded into said opening for tensioningthe flexible means, and means entirely on the outer side of said formmember for securing the flexible means to the other form member.

5. In apparatus of the character described and in combination, formmembers disposed in opposed relation, flexible means disposed betweenthe form members, an element projecting through one of the form membersand secured to said flexible means, a reinforcing member extending alongthe outer side of said form member, an angular clamp, means seated onsaid reinforcing member and confined between the angularities of saidclamp, and means including means cooperating with the vclamp anddisposed to one side. of the reinforcing member for engaging saidelement to ten.

sion the flexible means, and means for securing the flexible means tothe other form member.

6. In an apparatus of the character described and in combination, formmembers disposed in opposed relation, flexible means between said formmembers, means for securing one end of the flexible member to one of theform members, a reinforcing member disposed upon the outer side of theother form member, a tubular member extending through one of the formmembers and engaged With the flexible member, a rod threaded at bothends with one end detaehably connected to the outer end of the tubularmember, a U -shaped clamp embracing one edge of the reinforcing member,and means adjustably mounted on the outer end of the rod and bearingagainst said clamp for tensioning the flexible member.

7. In apparatus of the kind described and in combination, form membersarranged in opposed relation, flexible means between said form members,means for connecting one end of the flexible member to one of the forms,a tubular member having transverse openings adjacent its inner endthrough which the flexible means is extended, a reinforcing elementdisposed upon the outer side of the form, a rod detach ably connectedwith the outer end of the tubular member and extending through saidreinforcing member, and means ad'ustably mounted upon the outer end ofsai rod for tensioning said flexible member.

8. In an apparatus of the character described and in combination, formmembers arranged in o posed relation, flexible means between said ormmembers, means for securing the flexible member to one of the forms, atubular member extending through the other form and having its inner endclosed, said. tubular member having opposed openings therethroughthrough which the flexible means is extended, a reinforcing memberdisposed upon the outer side of the form member, a U-shaped clampembracing one edge of the reinforcing member, a rod detachably connectedwith the outer end of the tubular member and extending through saidreinforcing member, and a clamping nut threaded on to the outer end ofthe rod and bearing against the U-shaped clamp for adjusting the rod andtensioning the flexible member.

9. In apparatus of the character described and in combination, formmembers disposed in opposed relation", flexible means disposed betweensaid form members, tubular means projecting through said form membersand engaged with said flexible means, means movable in said tubularmeans for separating said flexible means from said tubular means, andmeans for moving said vtubular means axially.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

CHESTER I. WILLIAMS.

